Are the buttons accessible for keyboard navigation?

Why check the accessibility of your buttons

Key points • Visually impaired or mobility-impaired visitors often navigate using only the keyboard • All buttons must be focusable via the Tab key • Good accessibility enhances the user experience and hotel SEO

Accessible buttons are a fundamental element in ensuring smooth navigation on your hotel website. Visually impaired visitors, people with mobility limitations, or simply those who prefer not to use a mouse should be able to navigate your site easily using the keyboard. Ensuring your buttons are accessible guarantees an inclusive and professional experience.

To begin, test your site using the Tab key. This key allows you to navigate from one interactive element to another. Each time you press Tab, a button, link, or field should receive a clear visual focus: a border, a halo, a color change, etc. If the focus is invisible, difficult to see, or absent, this presents an accessibility problem.

Next, check that your buttons aren't simply clickable divs. A div without an explicit role isn't accessible by default via the keyboard. Buttons and links must be created with the appropriate elements: • `<button>` for an internal action • `<a>` for redirection to another page

If you intentionally use a styled div, you must add: • role="button" • tabindex="0" • keyboard interactions (Enter / Space)

💡 Tip: always prioritize real <button> and <a> elements which are natively accessible.

Also, make sure that focus states aren't removed from your styles. Many designers remove outlines by default, which prevents users from seeing where they are. If you customize focus, only replace it with a clear visual style, never an invisible one.

Also check the logical tab order: • your buttons must follow the visual hierarchy • no hidden or decorative elements should be focusable • important CTAs (Book Now, View Room, Discover Restaurant…) must be easily accessible

The navigation menus also need to be tested. A menu should be able to be: • opened using the keyboard • navigated with Tab and the arrow keys • closed with Esc

Forms must follow the same rules: every field and button must be reachable and focusable.

To go further, use an auditing tool like Lighthouse, WAVE, or Axe DevTools, which automatically detect: • unfocusable buttons • missing ARIA roles • insufficient contrast • keyboard navigation issues

This type of test is particularly important on dynamic CMS pages (rooms, offers, news), where repeated elements can introduce errors that are difficult to see in the editor.

Conclusion

Yes, your buttons can be fully accessible via keyboard navigation if you use the right elements (<button> or <a>), visible focus styles, and a logical tab order. By following these best practices, you make your hotel website truly inclusive and user-friendly for everyone.